Dear parents/carers
How have we reached the end of January already? It has been a week of WOW moments at North Town. On Tuesday, I was lucky enough to observe our Year 6 Cricket Team enjoy a training session with 3 Somerset cricketers! On Wednesday, science students from Richard Huish College visited to carry out some science experiments with our Year 5 children (please visit the science section of our website to see some of the photos and a video.) Throughout the week, it has been an absolute joy to see our Pippins children enjoying their phonics lessons in the school library! I have also been visited by many children throughout the week showing me their incredible work. This has included amazing art from our Year One children, super maths from our year 4 and 5 children and much much more. Well done to our children and a huge thank you to my North Town team for the opportunities you provide.
Parents Evening Bookings
We have our Spring Term parents evenings coming up on Wednesday 8th February (3:30 pm – 6:00 pm) and Tuesday 21st February (3:30 pm – 6:00 pm). The booking system will open this Friday at 6:00 pm for you to make an appointment to see your child’s teacher. The booking system will close three days before the parents evening.
You will be able to book a ten minute slot to speak with your child’s teacher in person, and we ask that you respect the ten minute appointment. Please only book an appointment for one evening.
On the evening of the appointment, please head straight to the library ten minutes before your appointment time to enable you to view your child’s work. Please then proceed to the school hall at your allotted appointment time.
If you are going to be invited to a SEND parents appointment you will receive a separate communication.
Change of Parents Evening date for Year 6
We have decided to move one of the dates of Parents Evening for Year 6 from Wednesday 8th February to Wednesday 1st March (3:30-6pm). The children are completing some tests in the last week of half term and the class teachers would like to be able to feedback to parents on the outcomes. Please continue to book an appointment for 8th February and this will automatically transfer to 1st March 2023
Lost Property
We are inundated with lots of lost property at the moment. Please could we remind you all to take the time to label your child’s items of clothing and belongings; it takes five minutes and would help the office team to be able reunite lost items with the correct child. Please also check the clothing your child comes home with in case they have picked up something belonging to someone else. If your child is missing something, the lost property is situated by the school office just inside of the doors.
Unform Reminders
Unfortunately it has become apparent that several children are not wearing the correct uniform, please see the uniform information below as a reminder of our uniform. Please also be aware that long hair should be tied back, shirts tucked in.
Hair ties and accessories should be green, grey, white or black.
Jewellery other than plain ear studs, make up, and temporary tattoos are not permitted.
North Town School Uniform
Logo sweatshirt or cardigan*
White shirt (NOT polo shirt)
Tie*
Grey trousers/skirt/pinafore/shorts
Grey, black or white socks
Grey or green tights
Black shoes (No boots, pumps or trainers)
Warm Weather Options (Between April and October at parents’ discretion)
Green & white gingham dress
Grey shorts
White short sleeved shirt (NOT polo shirts)
No tie in warm weather at the discretion of the Head/Senior Leadership
PE Uniform
Green and yellow sports shirt*
Black shorts or skirt
Winter tracksuit trousers (plain unbranded black)
North Town hooded sweatshirt*
Black or white sport socks
Black or white trainers
Holiday Sports Clubs
Mr. Grave will be running a multi-sports club on the Tuesday and Wednesday of half term (14th & 15th). He will also be running a holiday club during the first week of the Easter holidays. Please keep an eye on Parentmail for details of how to book any of these sessions.
Wrap Around Care at North Town
Just a reminder that from the summer term, North Town Primary School and Nursery will be taking over the running of our breakfast and after school club. We are extremely grateful to Gemma Connah and the Tawnies team for their hard work and dedication over the years. They have provided fantastic care of many children. Gemma has been so supportive behind the scenes with her advice and ideas. I would like to take the time to reassure parents and carers that we will not be making any major changes to the running of our wraparound care.
- We will continue to offer wraparound care from 7:30 am and the afternoon care will stay open until 6 pm.
- Existing families will still be guaranteed a place at wraparound.
- Parents and carers can book up for the whole academic year if they wish.
- Children will still be served breakfast in the morning and a snack at afternoon club.
- There will still be a variety of toys, games and resources for the children to enjoy.
Nursery Update
Thank you to the parents and carers for your support in what has been a time of change in our nursery. We lost three members of staff including our Nursery manager at the end of autumn term to the same Nursery in Bridgwater. Although we were sad to lose the staff, we completely understood as all three were travelling to North Town every day from Bridgwater; and to have an opportunity at a nursery on your doorstep was an exciting one for them all.
We were delighted to appoint our new Nursery Manager, Patricia Mettica Smith before Christmas and appreciate how the rest of the team have stepped up and supported her and the nursery.
We are thrilled to have appointed a familiar face as deputy of our nursery. Shelby Norman will be returning from Monday 6th February. Shelby brings so much experience with her and we are all very much looking forward to her return. A huge thank you to Laura Saward who kindly covered as acting deputy these past weeks.
We have also appointed a new practitioner, Kirstie Porter who started with us on yesterday. Kirstie has previous experience of working in a nursery and will be a fantastic addition to the nursery team.
I cannot mention the nursery without saying a special thank you to Heidi Screech. Heidi has been immense with her support, her knowledge and her presence. She has gone above and beyond to ensure our Nursery has continued to operate as effectively as it does.
I am extremely grateful to my North Town teachers who have volunteered to work in the nursery at the end of the school day to support the nursery team.
PE Kit
A reminder from Mr. Grave for all children to make sure they have the correct PE Kit with them at all times. This includes the North Town PE t-shirt, Green PE Hoodie, Black shorts, leggings or tracksuit bottoms, socks and a pair of trainers. All of these items should be clearly labelled with the child’s initials or full name if possible. This will help us to re-unite clothing with the rightful owners.
NSPCC Number Day
On Friday 3rd February, we are celebrating NSPCC Number Day! The children will be completing Buddy’s Key Challenge in their classes and spending time talking about maths and numbers. For this, we are asking that, instead of the scheduled mufti day, the children come dressed either as a number, wearing a number or something related to numbers. This could be a football shirt (number on the back), a domino (all black with white domino spots), a clock face, mufti but with number birthday badges, numbers written on a t-shirt with fabric pen and lots more! There will also be a fashion show on the day to celebrate the glorious numbers on display. All donations will be going towards the NSPCC for this. A ParentMail was sent on Wednesday with more details.
Clothing
Please could we remind you to send your child/children in with weather appropriate clothing, ie: a waterproof coat if it is raining or a warm coat if it is due to be cold.
Phonics Clinics
Thank you to Mrs. Richards for organising the RWI Phonics Drop in Clinic after school on Monday. The clinics run from 3.20pm – 3.50pm every Monday in New Rock Pippins classroom. The door will be open to answer any questions you may have about your child’s phonics group, phonics assessment, what they need to work on or how you can support at home. This applies to the whole of Early Years (Reception and Years One and Two) and some of our older children.
Timing Reminder
Please remember the school start and finish times as below:
Start of Day
8:30 am – 8:40 am – Early Years and Key Stage One
8:40 am – Siblings
8:45 am – Key Stage Two
8:50 am – School Gates Close – if you arrive after this time, please bring your child to the school office so they can be recorded on the register.
End of Day
3:00 pm – 3:10 pm – Early Years and Key Stage One
3:10 pm – Siblings
3:15 pm – 3:20 pm – Key Stage Two
3:20 pm – School Gates Close – if you arrive after this time you will need to come to school via the front gate.
Dates for the diary – 2023
Friday 3rd February – Mufti Day and NSPCC Number Day
Wednesday 8th February (4:30-7:30) – Parents’ Evening
Saturday 11th February – Sunday 19th Feb – SCHOOL CLOSED (Half term)
Tuesday 21st February (3:30 – 6:30) – Parents Evening
Hope you all have a restful weekend
Mark Braund
Head Teacher